June's Newsletter #27
We are delighted to showcase Kit Conway as the author of June's spotlight. We will be reviewing her book, Cat Fight, alongside The Summer Girl, and I'm Glad My Mom Died. Happy Summer! Happy Reading!
June’s Author Spotlight
Kit Conway
Kit Conway is a debut author with her suspenseful book Cat Fight. She is from Kent, UK, where she lives with her husband and three sons. She was previously a corporate lawyer before deciding to pursue her dream of writing a novel. Cat Fight was first released in the UK and, earlier this month made its debut in the US. Cowboy Films which optioned it for adaptation into a TV show. We are excited to introduce you to the talented premiere author, Kit Conway!
GB) What are you grateful for?
KC) I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had. So much of success in life comes down to the availability of opportunity – where you’re born, the family you’re born into, the things you’re able to experience. It hasn’t always been this way but I’m grateful to be in a place where I have the time and space to focus on writing alongside raising a family. It’s an extraordinary privilege on all counts.
GB)This is so exciting to have your debut novel be out in the world. Can you tell us what it has been like for you to go through the process of getting your 1st book published?
KC) Like many authors I worked on Cat Fight for over a year without knowing whether I would secure a publishing contract. Having a book published is a mysterious kind of alchemy with so many different elements needing to come together at the same time: ideas, writing skill, commitment, the right people to champion it, and luck. For it to be happening is a dream come true!
GB) I loved Desperate Housewives and Tiger King, I have to say you pulled the mix of them off very well. Tell us more about the inspiration for this story idea.
KC) It was inspired by a real-life post in a local Facebook group here in the UK, where Cat Fight is set, and where the generally accepted view is that there are no wild cats. In the post a woman’s sister believed she had seen a big cat on the hood of her car before it had slunk off into the bushes. While the post itself was fascinating, so too were the comments: all supportive and detailing similar sightings over the years. The image of the cat on the hood of the car stayed with me and years later – when one of my protagonists, Coralie, appeared in my mind – it informed the opening scenes of Cat Fight. I decided to set the story in the suburbs because I think it makes for such delicious social commentary alongside the drama of having the residents rubbing up (sometimes quite literally) against each other.
GB) I think one of the biggest things I took away from this book is that people will believe what they want to believe. You never really know what is going on behind people’s doors. What other messages do you hope people get after reading your book?
KC) I hope it sparks discussion about whether there’s big cats in the UK, because I think it’s a really rich and interesting topic, but I also hope it provokes conversation around motherhood and family life. In many ways the women in Cat Fight are caged by their domestic circumstances and I wanted to explore how they might push back against those boundaries with the means available to them at the time.
GB) Also, if your book got picked up as a movie or TV show. Who would you want to play Emma, Coralie, and Twig?
KC) I’m happy to say that Cat Fight has recently been optioned for screen! We have had some very exciting conversations regarding casting but nothing is set as yet. I would love to hear from readers as to who they would like to see in those roles!
GB) What is one of your favorite authors to read?
KC) There’s so many but if I have to choose one I’m going to say Taylor Jenkins Reid as I am eagerly anticipating Atmosphere’s release on the 3 June! As Cat Fight is out on the same day it will be a perfect distraction from any publication nerves!
GB) Can you tell us more about what made you transition from a corporate lawyer to a mystery fiction writer?
KC) I had always wanted to write since childhood and would often be jotting down little snippets of story ideas and poems. I worked long hours as a lawyer and it was the one period of my life where my impulse to write was stifled (although I spent most lunch-breaks wandering a nearby bookshop daydreaming about writing!). I began blogging when I was on maternity leave which I enjoyed but ultimately it became quite time-consuming. I realized if I spent that time writing a book I might finish one! So I challenged myself to write 1000 words a day until I had a complete manuscript. And it worked! That was a few years ago now and I’ve been honing my craft since. Cat Fight is the result.
GB) How did you balance motherhood and writing?
KC) You have to be quite disciplined to balance the two: ignoring the washing pile and admin list when you’re trying to get your words down and then snapping back your focus when required. It’s a great job to fit around motherhood as it’s flexible, but you do need to go easy on yourself. Rest is also essential.
GB) I enjoyed all of the juicy drama in this book and the suspense. Do you have anything else you are currently working on?
KC) I am working on my next novel which will be another dose of juicy drama and suspense in the Kent suburbs but this time there’s a monster in the lake….
GB) Anything else you would like to add to the interview?
KC) No, just a big thank you for having me!
June’s Book Reviews
Win an audiobook copy from libro.fm of Cat Fight this month by telling us what you are currently reading in the comments for this month’s newsletter. 1 Winner will be randomly picked on 7/14/24. Happy Reading!
Cat Fight by Kit Conway
“As the hot summer progresses it can only be described as a cat frenzy that ensues.” -Kit Conway, Cat Fight
"Cat Fight" by Kit Conway is an impressive blend of "Desperate Housewives" and "Tiger King.” If they had a baby, it would be this book. The story is set in Sevenoaks, a wealthy suburb of London, and revolves around three main characters who are neighbors, the sighting of a panther, and some big cat hysteria. First, there's Twig, a former rockstar who is focused on getting her sick daughter the treatment she needs. Next is Coralie, a zoologist and self-proclaimed "Cat Whisperer." Finally, we have Emma, who is working to get her new house plans approved. Each of these women harbors secrets and ambitions. What will they do with their intertwined lives? And, who is the real predator? The big cat or your neighbor? You'll have to read the book to find out! I thoroughly enjoyed the juicy suburban drama. The twists and turns made this a very engaging read for me. Thank you Atria for the gifted copy for an honest review.
Published in June 2025. Goodreads rates it a 3.53
The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
“You always make yourself needlessly anxious by assuming the outcome.” ― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl
“The Summer Girl”, the third in the “Avalon Bay” series by Elle Kennedy, is about Cassandra Soul, a 20-year-old about to turn 21. She is spending the summer in Avalon Bay with her grandmother while also visiting her dad. Her grandmother is selling her hotel and moving to Boston to be closer to her family. Cassandra's father still lives in town, and she has been able to visit over the years, but not as often as she would have liked since her parent’s divorce. She comes into the summer wanting a summer fling to lose her virginity before she graduates college. When she first arrives, she meets Tate, the hottest guy in the Bay. Cassie doesn't think she has a chance with him, but she catches his eye, as he happens to be house-sitting next door. And, a summer fling ensues.
I found this story too spicy for a high schooler, but it was too immature for me (I am in my early 40s). The end has a juicy twist, and the author wraps it up nicely.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for giving me the audiobook for an honest review.
Published in July of 2023. Goodreads rates it a 3.96
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
“I yearn to know the people I love deeply and intimately—without context, without boxes—and I yearn for them to know me that way, too.” ― Jennette McCurdy, I'm Glad My Mom Died
“I'm Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy is a memoir that recounts McCurdy’s experiences growing up with a mother who pushed her into acting at a very young age. Jennette became a successful child actor primarily to please her emotionally and psychologically abusive mother. This beautifully written memoir follows McCurdy’s career and the difficulties she faced as a result of being a child actor with a controlling mother. This book is heartbreaking and hilarious as McCurdy weaves her unique sense of humor throughout. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading it. And, despite its nature, this is also a story about resilience and healing. I have a lot of admiration for McCurdy’s honesty and vulnerability. Thank you, Simon and Schuster, for providing a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Published in August of 2022. Goodreads rates it 4.44.
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June's Recipe
Sweet & Spicy Grilled Vegetables With Burrata
This flavorful summer recipe is great for a main dish or side.
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE SWEET-AND-SPICY SAUCE
¼ cup chopped golden raisins, dried apricots, or roasted red peppers
⅔ cup white wine vinegar or cider vinegar (or a combination)
2 tablespoons honey, plus more to taste
1 tablespoon fish sauce or colatura (optional)
¼teaspoon red-pepper flakes
Pinch of fine sea salt or to taste
FOR THE VEGETABLES (USE ANY OR ALL)
Extra-virgin olive oil
2 to 3 bell peppers, quartered, stems and seeds removed
1 to 2 zucchini or summer squash, sliced diagonally ½-inch thick
1 small eggplant, sliced diagonally ½-inch thick
2 to 4 ears yellow corn, shucked
8 ounces mushrooms, trimmed and halved or quartered
1 bunch thick asparagus, ends snapped
8 ounces cherry tomatoes, preferably still on the vine
Add any other veggies of choice
FOR SERVING
2 small burrata or fresh mozzarella balls, or 2 cups fresh ricotta
Flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Basil or mint leaves, for serving
Crusty bread slices
INSTRUCTIONS
Make the sauce: Put raisins, apricots, or peppers in a small heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, honey, fish sauce or colatura (if using), red-pepper flakes and salt. Bring to a boil, then let simmer until the mixture reduces slightly, about 3 minutes. Immediately pour over the raisins and let cool. Taste and stir in a little more honey if the sauce is too harsh. (Sauce can be made up to 1 week ahead and stored in the refrigerator.)
Step 2
Prepare the vegetables: Oil the grill grate and light the grill. Have a serving platter at the ready.
Step 3
Grill the peppers, zucchini, eggplant and corn directly on the grate, in batches if necessary, and turning them as needed. Move them around the grate so they cook evenly. Cook until they are lightly charred, watching them carefully, 5 to 12 minutes, depending on the vegetable.
Step 4
To grill the mushrooms and asparagus, place them in a grilling basket if you have one, or put directly on the grill. (Arrange the asparagus perpendicular to the grates so they don’t fall through.) Grill, turning as needed, until charred all over, 6 to 10 minutes. Grill the cherry tomatoes, using the vine as a handle if possible, for 1 to 2 minutes, until they start to burst and char slightly. Transfer all the vegetables as they cook directly to the serving platter.
Step 5
Add the cheese to the platter next to the vegetables. Immediately drizzle everything with some of the sauce and with olive oil. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and pepper and scatter the herbs generously on top. Serve the extra sauce and the bread alongside for making crostini with some of the vegetables and more of the tangy sauce.
To make this using a broiler, spread the vegetables on a rimmed sheet pan, drizzle with oil and broil until browned on top, then flip and broil until browned on the other side. The timing will depend on the vegetable, so stick with one kind per baking pan. You’ll need to do this in batches. You can also use a grill pan.
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